For the third year in succession, the week-long Societal Interaction with Nuweiba Bedouins Project has been held by the Egyptian Tourism and Environment Development Association, under supervision of the Ministry of Tourism, and headed by journalist and writer al-Sayed al-Demerdash and
Archaeologist Abdel-Rehim Rihan, General Manager of the Antiquities Ministry’s Department of Archaeology in Sinai and Lower Egypt, who is also in charge of archaeological and touristic awareness with the Nuweiba project, said that the team working on the project included scientific experts in the fields of archaeology, tourism, medicine, sociology, theatre, aesthetics, textiles, and Arabic calligraphy.
A number of events were held. These included lectures in sociology; interaction with others, refined behaviour, thinking out of the box, problem solving, and studying social and psychological aspects of the Bedouin community. Students were offered training on writing and Arabic calligraphy.
Mr Demerdash, presented a documentary on the achievements of the project during the previous years. This included a training programme for journalists, through a protocol of cooperation with the Journalists Syndicate, on dealing with the Bedouin community and covering it in the media. Participants ended up better oriented with Bedouin culture, customs, and traditions.
The project’s achievements included funding 18 open heart surgeries for Bedouins, several trips by Nuweiba youth to Cairo, training 86 women and girls on carpet loom-weaving and displaying their products in the project’s annual celebration usually attended by Khaled Fouda, Governor of South Sinai.
Mr Rihan explained that this year’s activities included awareness lectures on archaeology and tourism, with an introduction on tourist attractions in Nuweiba and in Sinai in general. There were also health awareness sessions about the damaging effects of smoking; preventing the spread of diseases; first aid; and dealing with chronic diseases such as diabetes. The art of story writing, painting, and theatre performance were taught in specific workshops. Activities also included familiarising Nuweiba residents with modern fishing methods in the Gulf of Aqaba.
On a reciprocal line, the activities included sessions about customs and traditions of Nuweiba residents, as well as camel training and racing. Very soon, Mr Rihan said, the largest camel racetrack will be opened by South Sinai Governorate. It is located in the area of Ruwaisat and established on an area of five square kilometres; it is also prepared to host car and bicycle races.
Watani International
10 December 2017